The relationship between this slender tower in North Sydney and the former fire station—with which it shares a parcel—can be said to oscillate between distance and proximity. While the two-story podium structure of the hotel and office building has been fitted snugly alongside the nineteenth-century firehouse, the glazed tower hovers far above its diminutive neighbor, separated by a wide interval and beginning only at the level of the sixth story.
The interplay between these buildings also tells the story of this neighborhood: an outlying suburb during the colonial era, North Sydney later emerged as the financial center of this metropolis, now home to millions. This “embrace” resembles a gesture of respect toward the smaller building, a survivor from an earlier era.
The clear tripartite division of the building on Walker Street is derived from the surroundings. Thanks to its sandstone facade and moderate height, the entry building in the middle, with its striking urban look, alludes to its historic neighbor. Accessed from this point are the street-level lounge and the office spaces and hotel lobby above.
The glazed tower itself is divided into two sections. Only the northern part sits at ground level; it contains an additional entrance for hotel guests. Configured in this slender section are the elevators, staircases, and sanitary facilities. In contrast, the “hovering” southern section accommodates the hotel rooms and, above them, flexible, column-free office levels.
Forty-five levels are suspended nine meters above their historic neighbor. The building’s weight is conducted into the ground by immense steel and concrete supports, some set at angles. From both within and without, these supports visualize this structural feat of strength in design terms. The levels, each measuring approximately 600 square meters, are contained by a glass facade with rounded corners that offers expansive views of harbor and skyline. This curving form visually elongates what is now the highest tower in North Sydney, giving the elevated volume a lightweight appearance
